The Agricultural Landlord and Tenant Code of Practice for England has been launched today (Monday, April 8) to be a guide for the parties to a tenancy agreement to behave with “fairness and respect”.
The Code of Practice was a key recommendation of the Rock Review and has been designed to foster and encourage clarity, communication and collaboration in the tenanted sector.
It provides guidance on the standards of behaviour expected from landlords and tenants as well as those providing professional advice in connection with agricultural tenancy matters.
Secretary and adviser to the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV), Jeremy Moody, said:
“With the need for a flexible, commercial and positive tenanted sector as a key part of managing the current changes in the agricultural sector, the CAAV was happy to work with all the members of the Farm Tenancy Forum to help deliver what was a key part of the Government’s response to the Rock Review.
“The CAAV has endorsed the use of this Code of Practice by our members and all the parties to a tenancy agreement.
“In promoting the code and its use by all parties the CAAV’s model FBTs for England now include a reference to the code so that, as part of our “no surprises” approach, it is there as a guide for the parties to a tenancy agreement to behave with fairness and respect.”
Chair of the Farm Tenancy Forum, Julian Sayers, said he hopes all those who are party to the granting of agricultural tenancy agreements and negotiating associated matters will embrace this code “for the good of the sector as a whole”.
“The member organisations of the Farm Tenancy Forum will be actively promoting awareness and adoption of the Code along with monitoring its impact during our regular meetings.”
Environment secretary Steve Barclay said: “The tenanted sector is a central part of this government’s work to back British farmers and grow the rural economy.
“That’s why I am pleased to see the launch of this new Code of Practice, which will ensure the tenanted sector continues to thrive by promoting positive relationships between tenants and landlords.”
“It continues our progress to implement the Government’s Response to the Rock Review, with over a third of the commitments already completed, and actions underway to deliver on most other areas.”
